To The Memory of our Beloved Daughter Ethel G. Doty

Thank you, Brandie Stacey, for sharing Ethel G. Doty’s memorial card with me. When Brandie sent me the card, I didn’t know who Ethel was. The baby only lived six weeks passing May 7, 1898.

I was curious, so I snooped around and located a death notice in a Middletown, New York newspaper. Much to my surprise I found the baby girl was the daughter of my Great Grandparents Lewis Penny Doty and Emily (Wight) Taylor.

Death Notice from

Middletown Daily Argus, Middletown New York

Monday, May 9, 1898

Ethel had died three years before my Grandfather Frank Leroy Doty was born. I recall no one in the family talking about her and imagine this little girl’s loss was too painful for the Great Grandparents to discuss.

When we see the precious blossom,

That we tended with such care,

Rudely taken from our bosom,

How our hearts almost despair!

Round the little grave we linger,

Till the setting sun is low,

Feeling all our hopes have perished,

With the flower we cherished so.

New Teacher on the Ridge above Westtown, Kimber Letter 19

A new correspondent, Pamela P. Bennett, writes to Aunt Keziah (Bennett) Kimber June 1, 1856, from home in Unionville, Orange County, New York. Her father is David Bennett, Keziah’s brother.  Keziah is the matriarch of the Kimber family and my 4^th Great Grandmother.

Pamela begins the letter chiding her Aunt because she hasn’t heard a word from her. In earlier letters, my 4^th Great Grandparents Keziah Bennett and Benjamin Kimber were looking to leave Orange County, and it’s happened.

Pamela recently began teaching school on the ridge above Westtown and wanted to tell Keziah how much she liked it. It might surprise you to know Pamela was only 15 years old. She mentions another acquaintance teaching in Centerville who just happens to be Keziah’s grandson, Benjamin Kimber Jones.

You can read the letter for yourself or listen to my narration by clicking below on the YouTube video.

Pamela P. Bennett’s letter to Keziah (Bennett) Kimber

Page 1

Pamela P. Bennett’s letter to Keziah (Bennett) Kimber

Page 2

Transcripts provided by the late Edna Raymond, Town of Minisink Historian.

Cousin Lucretia writes Sarah in Troy June 1, 1856, from Unionville, NY, Letter 18

Cousin Lucretia Bennett joins the Kimber Ladies Writing Circle June 1, 1856, when she writes to Sarah (Kimber) Mackney in Troy, Pennsylvania. She pens an interesting letter filled with daily news and family doings. You can read the letter for yourself or listen to my narration by clicking below on the YouTube video.

Lucretia’s father, David Bennett, and Sarah’s mother, Keziah (Bennett) Kimber, were brother and sister. Let me acquaint you with other family members you’ll hear about in Lucretia’s letter. She writes of a visit to Willing Bennett in Chemung Co., NY. Willing must be family, but I don’t know how he’s related. Uncle Josiah was Great Grandmother Keziah and Uncle David Bennett’s brother. Bennett and Millicent Kimber are from Aunt Sally’s branch in Susquehanna, PA. Aunt Sally was a sister of Keziah, David, and Josiah.

‘Will’ is Sarah’s husband, William Mackney. Erastus Elston’s remarriage must have been a surprise for the family. It’s remarked on several times among the Kimber ladies.

Lucretia sends love to Cousin Jane Eliza Seely and tells the news of her sister Pamela.

 

Transcripts provided by the late Edna Raymond, Town of Minisink Historian.

New Lime for Sale, Just Burned, Minisink, New York

NEW LIME.—Just burned, a Kiln of New Lime, of excellent quality, at his residence, one mile east of Gardners Ville, and three miles south of Ridgebury.

                                                                        B. B.  & Wm. P. Clark

   Minisink, February 25^th, 1841.                                                    35 tf.

   N. B.  The subscriber intends to keep lime constantly on hand, and will deliver it any reasonable distance at the shortest notice.

3^rd Great Grandfather William Parkinson Clark and his brother, Benjamin B. Clark, operated a lime kiln business in Minisink, Orange County, New York. I learned from an article by Amy Leiser, Executive Director of the Monroe County, PA Historical Society, how physically demanding it was to produce lime. For more details, please see Amy’s research History of Lime Kilns in Monroe County on the Monroe County Historical Society web page.

Benjamin B. Clark was the older brother by five years. When The Independent Republican printed this advertisement, Benjamin was about 35 years old. He had married Sarah Lain, a daughter of William Lain, Jr. and Deborah Alger, and was the father of 4 children.

My Grandfather William P. Clark had been married to Charity Kimber close to10 years. Five of their 14 children were born by 1841.

 Advertisement published in

The Independent Republican, Goshen, NY

March 26, 1841, edition

I can’t say how long Benjamin and William ran the lime kiln but guess it lasted until 1844/1845. They mortgaged their lands quite a few times perhaps to cover business expenses.

The brothers mortgaged three acres of land as early as Dec. 1, 1840, to a neighbor, Isaac A. Von Bomel, for $196. Orange County, NY Mortgage Book 45, page 562 records an Indenture between Benjamin B. & Sally Clark, William P. & Charity Clark and Isaac A. Van Bomel all of Minisink. Although Benjamin and Sally didn’t sign the agreement, William and Charity put their mark [X] on it. They paid the mortgage June 30, 1842.

Later that month on December 22^nd, Benjamin B. and Sally mortgaged their Minisink land (19 acres and 8 square rods) to Theodore B. Denton for $400. The next day, December 23^rd, they became indebted to Anna Marie, Samuel F. and John Gardner for $160 with the same 19 acres and 8 square rods as collateral. Both indentures were satisfied July 1848.

The brothers mortgaged the 3 acres a second time in October 1841 for $72.80 again to neighbor Isaac Van Bomel. This agreement was due Dec. 1, 1842, but there’s no sign it was paid.

Another neighbor, Richard A. Elmer, held a $600 mortgage in Benjamin’s name against the 3 acres associated with William and Benjamin’s 19 acres and 8 rods June 29, 1842.

That same day Richard A. Elmer helped William and Charity purchase a lot (52 acres and 30 rods) in Minisink that formerly belonged to the State of New York. The Great Grandparents were supposed to pay Mr. Elmer $200 by April 1843, but later records show the mortgage payment wasn’t satisfied.

Sally and Benjamin negotiated several more mortgage deals; the last one dated Nov. 28, 1845, with Richard A. Elmer. No official record exists as to what became of William and Charity’s three acres in Minisink; or what happened to the lime kiln.

The 1850 federal census finds William and the family living in Candor, Tioga County, New York; Benjamin remained in Orange County. Both were working farmers. William would return to Orange County within a few years. Benjamin didn’t fare as well dying young Nov. 25, 1851.

You might like to see my earlier William P. Clark posts:

      3rd Great Grandfather William P. Clark

      Today Marks 3rd Great-Grandpa's 203rd Birthday Anniversary